The Holiday Card

A small Chanukah miracle for a lonely Jewish soldier in Iraq.

It was our first big celebration as a family since our son's bris, eight years earlier. Our daughter Aliza was becoming a Bat Mitzvah. We had a fun idea for how to celebrate it: We had been married years earlier on a boat in Manhattan, and since Aliza was born on our first anniversary, we thought we would do it again.

So we hired a boat and invited a small group of mostly relatives and classmates. In planning the food and the flowers and the music, there seemed to be something missing. We had the “bar,” but where was the “mitzvah”? Aside from my daughter's Dvar Torah (“the speech”), what could we do to elevate this gathering from being just another birthday party?

Providentially, there was a request in our synagogue to pray for a local soldier who was being deployed to Iraq. The idea was born; let's have all the kids at our simcha (celebration) make Chanukah cards to send to Jewish soldiers overseas. Nothing earth-shattering, just a way to inject some meaning into the festivities.

The date arrived and our ship sailed. God granted us a picture perfect September day and when Aliza's carefully prepared speech blew overboard, she adlibbed admirably. The Chanukah cards were written and colored and decorated. A lovely time was had by all. And the next day, the cards were mailed out with heartfelt wishes and love to our Jewish brothers and sisters. End of story.

Or so we thought.

Six months later, when the bat mitzvah was a fond, distant memory, there was a knock on my door in the middle of the day. Bravely, I unlocked the door, even though I didn't recognize the voice on the other side. A pleasant twenty-something man greeted me:

"I'm Lt. Steinberg, and your daughter sent me a Chanukah card when I was in Iraq."

Well, you could've blown me over with a feather.

But wait -- it gets better.

Apparently our few dozen cards had been thrown in with the hundreds and thousands of cards sent to celebrate that other December holiday. The chaplain showed up one day at the army base with an enormous sack, filled to the brim with cards and letters. As he passed out handfuls of cards to the grateful troops, Lt. Steinberg was hanging back, feeling pretty left out and lonely.

Suddenly amidst the celebratory crowd, the company captain noticed our soldier. "Steinberg, why are you so quiet? How come you’re not opening any cards?"

Steinberg tried to shrink himself into invisibility. But the captain wasn't having it. "Let's go, Steinberg. These people were nice enough to write to us. NOW TAKE A CARD!"

By now the captain had everyone's attention and Steinberg was getting pretty uncomfortable in the spotlight. Quick, he told himself, just grab a Christmas card and you’ll stop being the center of attention.

Steinberg reached deep into the sack, pulled out a card and looked at it. To his complete and utter shock the return address said Wesley Hills, New York. Steinberg is from Wesley Hills.

Hands shaking, he tore it open and found a beautiful hand-made Chanukah card, signed by my daughter Aliza, the Bat Mitzvah girl herself. Steinberg was dumbfounded by the providence of it all. He broke out in a huge grin and proudly showed the card to the captain and the entire platoon. Everyone understood the small miracle they had just witnessed.

Standing there in my Wesley Hills home, with my mouth gaping open and tears in my eyes, I begged Steinberg to come back and retell the story when my children were home. Indeed, he returned the following week with a friend and a camera. For our family, it was an incredible inspiration to see so clearly the power of our "little" mitzvah.

But that’s not the end of the story. Just this past September one of the chaplains I had contacted about sending those cards asked if I could help arrange kosher meals and snacks for troops in Afghanistan for the High Holidays and Sukkot. I organized some people in my community and we sent 144 kosher meals to Afghanistan. Aish HaTorah’s Project Inspire got involved and sent dozens of personal cards and honey sticks for Rosh Hashanah and then chocolates for Chanukah to troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, Italy and Kuwait.

The story of Lt. Steinberg continues to bear more and more fruit. May all my daughter’s mitzvot enjoy such success!

Related Articles:

About the Author

Kaila Lasky is a motivational speaker and educator. She speaks across the U.S. and internationally for organizations, universities and schools, including the Jewish Federation Speakers Bureau, Aish HaTorah, Jewish Speakers Group and Chabad. Kaila gives regular “Workout for the Soul” classes and workshops in the tri-state region. She specializes in topics relating to personal growth, relationships, women’s issues and Jewish observance. Visit her online at kailalasky.com.

Visitor Comments: 22

Hi,
I would like to send chanuka cards to soldiers this year? How can I do it?

(21)
Jan H. W.,
November 2, 2010 3:16 AM

Story telling

My theatre troupe will be performing a holiday show for the soldiers at Fort Bliss, TX. I am going to add this story to the Christmas tales. It is too perfect. Thank you.

(20)
S. Rosenberg,
April 25, 2010 8:35 PM

Places to send cards to Jewish Soldiers

I read this article last year, and glad I had it saved.
Our family also wanted to "reach out" to Jewish Soldiers, but did not know how...recently we discovered "Project MOT".
They are based in Los Angeles, and collect names of Jewish soldiers that are deployed and send out packages. Right now they are getting ready to send out their Rosh Hashanah boxes. If you would like to write New Year cards, or donate, you can go to their website (http://www.rimmon.com/ProjectMOT.htm) and get the information, and see their wish list.
Good luck.

(19)
rg,
December 11, 2009 8:22 AM

Questions for Shlomo Shulman

I would love to help, too, but I live in Israel - are you saying that Cecilia's gifts would be tossed? or would it be better for things to be sent form here?

(18)
Anonymous,
December 9, 2009 10:55 AM

AWESOME

I was a former Army officer and there wasn't any Jewish outreach to me except by my Christian Army Chaplain nudging me to pray and observe Judaism. We do an amazing job of supporting the IDF, but Americans Jews can do more to support Jews and all our soldiers serving in the U.S. military. These guys/girls are actually fighting Islamic Fundalmentalists right now. If you live near a military base contact the base chaplain about inviting Jewish military personnel to Shabbos. If you live near a college contact the ROTC department to do the same. These fine young Jewish men and women need our support.

(17)
Pleasant,
December 8, 2009 11:41 PM

ah, yes!

That is the kind of stuff I live off of.

(16)
Cecilia,
December 8, 2009 5:42 PM

ordering a gift for a soldier-here's how!

Go to http://store.kiruv.com/product_p/eochan2009-soldier.htm .
We have a list of chaplains with jewish soldiers and are sending out chanukah gifts to them. The cost (including shipping) is only $4.99 per gift. They are chocolate balls with a dreidel, some gelt and rock candy in a blue organiza bag. Each gift comes with a beautiful Chanukah card and you can include your own message. Let's spread some light to a Jewish soldier abroad!

(15)
Shlomo Shulman,
December 7, 2009 12:16 AM

I'm a Jewish chaplain

I'm a Jewish chaplain in the U.S. Army, presently stationed in Korea. This is a beautiful story, but shouldn't be taken as the norm. When I was in Iraq, many people would send nosh and cards and other items. Unfortunately, much of it gets tossed aside, because it's hard to expect a unit chaplain (if there is one) to be motivated to walk around his base shlepping packages with him, doling cards and food and other items out to soldiers as he runs into them. Most chow halls prohibit soldiers carrying bags or boxes inside with them, and no one wants to get stuck holding onto some package all day, waiting 'til they can take it back to their bunk. Also, it's rare when the whole company or even platoon is all together in one place at one time when you can distribute these things. So the best course of action is to send anything (preferably small) directly to the mailbox of the soldier. Deployed troops have APO addresses, which only require domestic (USA)postage. I have a list of several dozen Jewish military pesonnel. You can write to me at a.shulman@ymail.com . The other option is to get the email address of a chaplain in Iraq or Afghanistan and be in direct contact with him to see what the troops might like and use. If they're on a giant base, they probably don't need socks and toothbrushes, because they can buy all that at the PX. If they keep kosher, they'd be thrilled at a LaBriute or Meal Mart shelf-life meal or a log of dried salami. If they don't keep kosher, they probably wouldn't touch that stuff, when they can eat at the Pizza Hut or Burger King trailers. See what I mean? Beautiful story, though, shows the power of reaching out to other Jews.

(14)
Anonymous,
December 6, 2009 10:38 PM

CARDS TO OUR SOLDIERS...

HOW DID YOU FIND AN ADDRESS? THIS FAMILY HAS CARDS AND PHONE CARDS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS, AND WE CAN'T FIND AN ADDRESS TO GET THEM TO IRAQ OR AFGANISTAN OR A CHAPLAIN THAT WILL HAND THEM OUT. HELP?

(13)
Rachel Goldring,
December 6, 2009 9:12 PM

excellent article

I wish I could put this on facebook without opening those toolbars that I cannot do...some of your article go right on share and others like this that brought tears to my eyes and would really like to share I cannot because like I said I do not know how to

(12)
Menucha Levin,
December 6, 2009 9:08 PM

Cards for IDF soldiers

What a wonderful, heartwarming story! When my sons were serving in the Israeli army, they felt appreciative and cared about when they received cards, letters and a goody bag from Jewish people around the world on Chanukah and Purim. If you'd like to show your appreciation for an IDF soldier please email menucha@connectionsisrael.com

(11)
Kat,
December 6, 2009 7:38 PM

beautiful story

proof that in life there are no coincidences- His hand is in things

(10)
Rachel,
December 6, 2009 5:47 PM

How can we get involved?

I thought it was not possible to just send mail, gifts etc to troops (unless of course one knows a specific servicemember) because of security concerns. Our family would be happy to do this if someone would tell us how.

(9)
Mike Berlin,
December 6, 2009 5:46 PM

Where to send "Jewish" cards

This is an answer to "Lu" number 4 who wanted to know where to send "Jewish" cards to...if you're in the US just contact (look up in google) your local US military recruiting bases or US military bases nearest you...and ask "who can I talk with to send cards to Jewish soliders?"...it will take some digging but eventually someone will tell you where to mail it to.

(8)
Larry Kegel,
December 6, 2009 5:02 PM

When I was in the service... I wish there was People to do it for the boys then... At least we were able to go to services while in the Army!!! Not only was the Jewish Men would go... But a lot of others would go too!!!

(7)
Ethel Schwartz Bock,
December 6, 2009 4:35 PM

Cards for Soldiers

Me too Lu. How do we go about sending the cards to Jewish soldiers in Iraq and Afghanastan?
Etti

(6)
Johan van den Top,
December 6, 2009 12:56 PM

Great!

Very nice story!
G'd is everywhere, to lift up people when in need.
Blessed be His Holy Name :)
Johan, the Netherlands

(5)
D'vorah,
November 23, 2009 6:28 PM

B"H - Knows Where We Are At All Times....

Amazing!

(4)
Lu,
November 22, 2009 10:00 PM

I'd love to make Jewish cards for our troops.

Awesome story.
I'd love to make Jewish cards for our troops. Anyone know where to send them or how to get them to those chaplains so our troops can have more to open?

(3)
Haydee,
November 22, 2009 4:06 PM

The true miracle

This one of the most beautiful, heartfelt story ever. I do believe in miracles and just the fact that I read your story, I am a living miracle.